Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

Udupi : Yenepoya University in coordination with the district administration, Zilla Panchayat, Department of Health and Family Welfare and Department of Women and Child Development, Udupi District has undertaken a programme for training and capacity building of 1900 ASHA and Anganwadi workers for creating awareness in target population about of risk factors, causation, screening, early diagnosis and treatment facility for Oral, Breast, Cervical cancers in particular and cancer in general.

Addressing with media persons at Udupi Press Club on Monday, 13^th March, 2017, Dr. Abhay S Nirgude, Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine, Yenepoya University, said that Cancer is an important health problem in India with approximately 9.5 lakh Indians suffering from it. It becomes important that there is early detection and prompt treatment of cancer and other precancerous conditions and provide the best possible protection against it for the community.

In view of this Yenepoya University under the leadership of Hon. Vice Chancellor Dr. M Vijayakumar, a removed Oncosurgeon, launched a programme with a vision of reaching out the millions in India especially in the rural areas as part of the social responsibility of the Unversity. The objective of this “Cancer Awareness Outreach Programme” is to create awareness of the disease among the public, help people recognize the symptoms and seek early treatment.

He said that ASHA and Anganwadi Workers are the members of community involved in many activities related to provision of healthcare to the community they live in. This brings them in contact with people frequently providing them with many opportunities to sensitize the people.

Subsequently the university has conducted 9 training sessions covering 1579 ASHAs and Anganwadi workers of Udupi district, till date. The concluding session of this cancer awareness outreach programme for ASHAs and Anganwadi workers will be conducted on 14^th March, 2017 at District Health and Family Welfare Office, Udupi. Around 321 ASHAs and Anganwadi workers will be trained in this last session. Thus a total of around 1900 ASHAs and Anganwadi workers of Udupi district were trained to create awareness on prevention and control of cancers, recognize symptoms early and facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.

Meanwhile 2000 cancer related information booklets have been prepared and will be distributed to all the ASHA and Anganwadi workers of Udupi district to enable them to educate the general public.

This concludeing session will be graced by mr. Dinakar Baby, President of ZP, Smt. Meenakshi Madhav President of UCMC, Smt. Priyanka Mary Francis DC., Dr. M. Vijayakumar Vice Chancellor, Yenepoya University, Dr. Shreekumar Menon Registrar, Dr. Rohini District Health and Family Welfare Officer, Gracy L. Gonsalves Deputy Director WCD and others.

Dr. Ibrahim Nagnoor Consultant Preventive Oncology, Dr. Varun N and Dr. Pracheth R. Assistnat professors department of Community Medicine were present during the press meet.